paper sunflower

Cut four 1" H x 8½" W [2.5 cm x 21.6 cm] strips of brown paper and cut fringes across the width of all the strips.
TIP: Fold each strip in half and cut fringes to speed up the work.

Cut two 1" H x 8½" W [2.5 cm x 21.6 cm] strips of black paper and cut fringes across the width of all the strips.

Cut 32 1" x 5" [2.5 cm x 12.7 cm] rectangles from the yellow paper.

Stack four yellow rectangles and cut a sunflower petal shape with a pointy tip at each end and and curved sides (think of a long leaf shape). Repeat this process eight times to create a total of 32 petals.

Cut a small black circle 1½" W [3.8 cm].

Cut five 1" x 5 [2.5 cm x 12.7 cm] rectangles from the green paper and repeat Step 4 with the green rectangles.

To create the middle of your sunflower, tightly roll a brown fringe strip, hot gluing the straight side every so often so it doesn’t unravel. Alternately layer the additional brown and black fringe strips around the outside of the first roll to make the middle wider, applying glue to secure as needed.

On the outside of your sunflower fringe middle, glue one end of a yellow petal to the straight edge of the fringe strip at the top, sides, and bottom of the fringe middle. (If you are looking at the fringe middle like a clock, a petal should be placed at 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, and 9:00). Glue another set of four petals in between the first four, then add a set of eight in between what’s already attached. Add the remaining 16 petals in between what’s already attached.

Cut a 12" [30.5 cm] wire "stem" and bend a small part on the tip of the wire.

Poke a hole in the middle of the black circle. Slide the stem through the hole and glue the bent tip onto circle. Glue the black circle with stem onto the bottom of the sunflower head.

Glue green leaves to the underside of the black circle, trying to cover as much of the circle as possible. Let the green leaves curve up onto the yellow petals.

Finally, wrap floral tape around the wire stem.

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